The report of the second Bloody Sunday Inquiry must be given to the
families of the victims at the same time it is received by the British
government, the large crowd at this year’s commemoration march was
told.

Joe McKinney, whose brother, Willie, was one of those murdered in the
1974 massacre, told the crowd of more than 8,000 people at Free Derry
Corner the report must be delivered to everyone at the same time.

His demand was echoed by the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness
who said that anything less than the truth about Bloody Sunday would
not be accepted by the people of Derry.

Mr McKinney called on the Saville Inquiry not to allow the British
government time to spin the findings of his inquiry before the families
have seen it.

“If the British Government have this report, we do not believe that the
Ministry of Defence, which represent the soldiers and officers involved
in murder here on Bloody Sunday, will not have it also.

“Why should they get to see this report before us, and get time to
prepare their spin and lies for their tame journalists, while we may
only have a few hours to see the report before we have to respond?,” he
asked.

The families also revealed they have written to British Secretary Shaun
Woodward asking for a meeting to discuss how the Saville Report will be
delivered.

Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness paid tribute to the local people who gave
evidence to the Saville Inquiry. “This is a big year for the families.
In the course of the Inquiry the people of Derry were put to the test.

“Thousands of people went through what was a daily interrogation and
did so with truth and honesty. Now the British Government are being
tested. If they are serious about truth and justice the report must be
given to the families at the exact same time that the British
government gets it,” he said.

It has been suggested that this year’s march could be the last if
Saville delivers a verdict which is acceptable to the families.

Martin McGuinness said whatever decision the families arrive at
regarding the future of the march will be supported by the people of
Derry.

“Where we go from here will be a matter for the families. They will
have to decide about whether to bring huge numbers onto the streets
next year.

“One thing is sure; any failure by the British government to clear the
names of those who were murdered will be challenged by the people of
this city,” he added.

* A car was burned and two petrol bombs thrown at the end of the annual
Bloody Sunday commemoration march in Derry, despite an appeal from
organisers for calm.